William thomas lacon



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

W. T. LAOON. LIFE SAVING. GU

ARD FOR ems.

No. 533,067. PatentedJan. 29, 1895.

WlLLIAM THOMAS LAOON, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

LIFE-SAVING GUARD FOR CARS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 533,067, dated January 29, 1895.

Application filed March 8, 1894. Serial No. 502,944. (No model.)

T or whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM THOMAS LA: CON, of the city of Toronto, inthe county of York and Province of Ontario, Ganada,have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Guards for Street-Oars; and Ihereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

This invention relates to a means whereby accidents to life and propertycan be avoided;

' and the object of the invention is to construct a life saving guard sothat it will in the case of possible accident, pick up the body andcarry it in advance of the car, and thus prevent the wheels of the carpassing over the body, and maiming or mutilating any of the severalparts, or crushing out the life; and the invention consists essentiallyof a life saving guard composed of a cushioned platform having aninclined wedge-shaped front suitably cushioned, by means of which thebody can be raised from the level of the track, and lifted on theplatform where it is carried, until removed; the whole device beingconstructed and arranged as hereinafter more fully set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front of a carshowing my attachment. Fig. 2 shows an alternative form of the same, inmechanical construction differing slightly from the construction shownin "Fig. 1, but exactly the same in principle.

Like numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout thespecification and drawings.

The guard consists of a platform I preferably constructed with ayielding top 2 supported as shown in Fig. 1 by coiled springs 3. Theplatform 1 is provided with an inclined wedge shaped front 4, by meansof which the bodies can be'lifted from the track on the top 2 of theplatform. To prevent the force of the blow of the front 4 injuring thebody when coming in contact therewith, the front .tis composed of rubberor other flexible tenacious material, or may be fitted, when required,with a cushion. The top 2 is supported by springs 3 resting on asuitable framework 5 secured to the lower front part of the car by meansof iron stays 5 Located in front of the dashboard 7 is abufferScomprised of a front 8 of flexible material and a back framework8". Between the front 8 and framework 8 is a series of springs 9. Theobject of the buffer 8 is to prevent the body when coming in contactwith the dashboard 7 being injured thereby. To further assist the buffer8 in gently arresting the movement of the body, elliptical springs 10are located between the dashboard and the back of the buffer.

This life saving guard can be attached to the front of any trolley carwithout interfering in any manner with the arrangement of the otherparts, and can be placed in position or removed from the car by amechanic of ordinary ability. The back of the buffer 8 is provided witha staple 11, through which passes a bar 12, secured to the ellipticalsprings 10, in order that the buffer Scan be moved longitudinally. Asshown in Fig. 1 the platform 1 is preferably provided with Wheels totravel along the car rails, in order to enable the platform to properlysustain the weight of its load. v

It might here be stated that the higher the proposed rate of speed ofthe car the longer it is found desirable to make the platform or guard,and the slower the rate of speed the shorter may be made the length ofthe guard or platform.

An additional advantage in the use of such a'guard or platform is in thefact that passengers can step on or oh" the car by means of theplatform, without the danger or risk of being run over by the motion ofthe car.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

In a life saving guard for cars the combination of the platform 1 havinga yielding top 2 supported by springs 3 and having an inclinedwedge-shaped frontof resilient material a framework 5 secured to thelower front part of the car by means of stays 5 upon which are supportedthe springs 3, a

buffer 8 comprised of a front 8 of resilient material, and a backframework 8 a series justment of the buifer, substantially as deofsprings between the front 8 and the back scribed. 8 and springs 10located between the dash- T0r0nt0,-February 20, 1894-.

board and the back 8 of the buffer, a staple VILLIAM THOMAS LACON. 5 11at the back of the butter 8, and abar 12 se- In presence ofcured t0 theelliptical springs passing through C. H. RICHES,

said staple to admit of the longitudinal acl- J E. CAMERON.

